(Washington) The man described as "the most demonstrably antigay judicial nominee in recent memory," is likely this week to be confirmed for a lifetime term on the federal appeal.

Senators warred almost three years over the nomination of former Alabama attorney general Bill Pryor. This week Democrats and Republicans will honor a truce over the use of filibusters to block President Bush's court nominees (story) and allow Pryor's name to move forward.

During the 2003 - 2004 session of Congress, Pryor's nomination to the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta was blocked by Senate Democrats, who charged that he was too extreme to make impartial judgments. The president then went ahead and placed him on the 11th Circuit in a temporary assignment set to expire late this year. (story)

In February, without comment, Bush resubmitted Pryor's name to the Senate.

In April, Lambda Legal released a summary of Pryor's record showing he has "repeatedly shown clear hostility to LGBT civil rights" and a bias towards those with HIV, women, people of color, disabled people and others. (story)

"William Pryor is the most demonstrably antigay judicial nominee in recent memory," said Kevin Cathcart, Executive Director of Lambda Legal.

"It's clear from his record that William Pryor does not belong on the federal appeals court."

While in his temporary position on the court Pryor cast the deciding vote to uphold Florida's outright ban on gay adoption. (story) Florida is the only state in the country that explicitly bans children from being adopted by gays and lesbians.

As Attorney General of Alabama, he was the only attorney general outside of Texas to author an amicus brief in the Supreme Court defending Texas's anti-gay sodomy statute. Pryor argued that states have an interest in singling out same-sex relations for punishment, even though his own state's statute made no distinction between same-and opposite-sex relations. His brief also compared same-sex relationships to pedophilia, bestiality and necrophilia.

While he served as A.G. of Alabama Pryor had links placed on the state website to anti-gay organizations and other conservative groups but not to groups with a neutral or differing views.

Also expected to be confirmed to federal appeals court this week is California Supreme Court justice Janice Rogers Brown who has almost as abysmal a record on LGBT issues as Pryor.

In 2003, Brown was the only justice on the California Supreme Court to rule against recognizing the right of gay Californians to legally adopt their children. Brown argued that allowing a gay parent to legally adopt the biological child of their partner "trivializes family bonds."

As Attorney General of Alabama, he was the only attorney general outside of Texas to author an amicus brief in the Supreme Court defending Texas's anti-gay sodomy statute. Pryor argued that states have an interest in singling out same-sex relations for punishment, even though his own state's statute made no distinction between same-and opposite-sex relations. His brief also compared same-sex relationships to pedophilia, bestiality and necrophilia.